Russian Olympic Trials: Day 5 Prelims Recap

2016 RUSSIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS / OLYMPIC TRIALS

• April 16-23rd, 2016
• Moscow, Russia
• Prelims 09:00/Finals 18:00 Local Time
• Prelims 02:00/Finals 11:00 U.S. Eastern Time
• Live results (IN ENGLISH – including event-by-event start lists)
• Olympic selection standards

Men’s 50 Fly- Prelims

• Russian record: 23.24, Yevgeny Korotyshkin
• Olympic standard: N/A

1. Aleksandr Sadovnikov, Volgograd: 23.64
2. Nikita Konovalov, Volgograd: 23.77
3. Nikita Korolev, Tatarstan; 23.90
4. Vitaly Melnikov, St. Petersburg: 24.00
5. Kirill Kiselev, St. Petersburg: 24.16
6. Viacheslav Prudinikov, St. Petersburg: 24.17
7. Roman Rubin, Volgograd: 24.22
8. Evgeny Koptelov, Moscow City: 24.23

Aleksandr Sadovnikov took the top slot in the heats of the men’s 50 fly, clocking a 23.64 that moves the previously-unranked swimmer up to 14th in the world rankings.

The pair of Nikitas, Nikita Konovalov and Nikita Korolev hit second and third, also making their way into the top 25 rankings. Konovalov swam the event in 23.77, while Korolev finished in 23.90. The three were the only swimmers under 24.

Women’s 100 Free-Prelims

• Russian record: 53.94, Veronica Popova
• Olympic standard: 54.18

1. Veronika Popova, St. Petersburg: 55.11
2. Natalia Lovtcova, Novosibirsk: 55.31
3. Maria Kameneva, Orenburg: 55.34
4. Arina Openysheva, Krasnoyarsk: 55.43
5. Victoriia Andreeva, Penza: 55.52
6. Rozaliya Nasretdinova, Moscow City: 55.82
7. Margarita Nesterova, Belgorod: 55.97
8. Daria Mullakaeva, Perm: 56.12

Russian national record holder Veronika Popova was, unsurprisingly, the first qualifier in the 100 free this morning, clocking 55.11. She will have to go faster in finals to make the Olympic standard of 54.18 and guarantee her spot on the team.

Natalia Lovtcova was just .2 seconds behind in 55.31, followed by Maria Kamenva in 55.34 and Arina Openysheva in 55.43.

Men’s 200 Back-Prelims

• Russian record: 1:54.60, Evgeny Rylov
• Olympic standard: 1:57.71

1. Evgeny Rylov, Moscow: 1:56.78
2. Andrei Shabasov, St. Petersburg: 2:00.45
3. Kliment Kolesnikov, Moscow: 2:00.56
4. Daniil Bukin, Uzbekistan: 2:01.38
5. Roman Larin, Penza: 2:01.97
6. Nikita Ulyanov, KHMAO: 2:02.34
7. Grigory Tarasevich, Omsk: 2:02.58
8. Igor Sorokin, Moscow City: 2:02.85

National record holder and junior world record holder Evgeny Rylov was a dominating force in the prelims of the men’s 100 back in 1:56,78, coming in well beneath the Olympic selection standard and outswimming the field by nearly four seconds. The previously unranked Rylov now sits 11th in the world.

Since no one in the field can touch his speed and endurance, the 19-year-old should have an easy time making the Olympic team come finals. He was the only swimmer under two minutes.

Andrei Shabasov finished second in 2:00.45, followed closely by Kliment Kolesnikov  in 2:00.56.

Women’s 200 Breast- Prelims

• Russian record: 2:19.41, Yulia Efimova
• Olympic standard: 2:26.08

1. Maria Temnikova, St Petersburg: 2:29.38
2. Mariia Astashkina, Penza: 2:29.40
3. Daria Chikunova, St. Petersburg: 2:30.47
4. Anna Belousova, Sverdlovsk: 2:30.63
5. Alena Efimova, KHMAO: 2:30.87
6. Alena Chekhovskikh, St. Petersburg: 2:30.91
7. Sofia Andreeva, St. Petersburg: 2:31.31
8. Natalia Ivaneeva, Volgograd: 2:31.53

With Yulia Efimova suspended from competition, the Russian team’s best hope at swimming this event in the Olympics (and medaling) has been left at home. However, the Russian Federation quickly changed their qualification rules, so there is still a chance Efimova could swim in Rio, despite missing the Russian Trials.

This morning, however, Maria Temnikova and Mariia Astashkina led the way in the women’s 200 breast, swimming 2:29.38 and 2:29.40, respectively. They were the only swimmers under 2:30. Daria Chikunova was the third-place qualifier in 2:30.47.

Men’s 200 IM- Prelims

• Russian record: 1:59.50, Semen Makovich
• Olympic standard: 1:59.56

1. Andrey Zhilkin, Moscow: 2:02.54
2. Semen Makovich, Samara: 2:03.09
3. Ivan Pavlov, Omsk: 2:03.28
4. Sergey Kashperskiy, Moscow: 2:03.28
5. Alexander Osipenko, Moscow: 2:03.78
6. Dmitrii Gorbunov, Moscow: 2:03.83
7. Dmitry Zhilin, Tatarstan: 2:04.07
8. Nikolay Sokolov, Volgograd: 2:04.25

In order to make the Olympic team in the men’s 200 IM, a swimmer will have to nearly take the Russian national record. After qualifying first and second in prelims Andrey Zhilkin and national record holder Semen Makovich are the likeliest two candidates, clocking prelims swims of 2:02.54 and 2:03.09.

Ivan Pavlov and Sergey Kashperskiy were close behind, both finishing in 2:03.28.